Practical Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

An opportunity to ensure that your organization gets maximum benefit from using Finite Element Analysis

3-Day Training Course : Introduction to FEA Analysis

FEA has become widely used and universally accepted in many industry sectors. FEA is a powerful technique, able to produce solutions to challenging structural analysis problems. The technology and computational efficiency of the method, together with the rapid increases in computer processing power means that today the scope and size of simulations far exceeds the capabilities of even a few years ago.

However for those engineers embarking on FEA, or companies adopting the technique to improve designs or achieve certification of new products, there is a steep learning curve to overcome.

There are a bewildering array of element types, solution types, meshing methods and pre-post processing options that have to be faced. This is before engineers get down to the engineering physics behind the problem, with the associated classic traps and errors. What is needed is guidance via a thorough but practical assessment of the method and how to use it in the real world.

NAFEMS, the only vendor neutral, not-for-profit organization with the aim of promoting the effective and reliable use of FEA, addresses this requirement by providing this three day example-driven, practical course.

Attendees are shown the background to the FEA methodology, via simple real examples with a minimum of theory. The strength and weaknesses of various FEA techniques are shown and discussed and practical considerations of loadings,boundary conditions and structural details are shown via examples.

The assessment, validation and interpretation of FEA results are vital for delivering safe, effective products are discussed to provide confidence in the results obtained aiming to provide conservative, reliable and qualified results. The attendees join in the activity of building this process themselves and come away with an embryo Procedural Check List. Report writing is also addressed as a class workshop.

The course offers excellent guidance on how to assess and plan the task of carrying out a Finite Element Analysis. A clear understanding of the objectives of each analysis is vital and a road map for achieving this is presented. A review of the trade off between available resource and analysis methodology is given.

Interaction is encouraged throughout the course. Real world examples are given at every stage, drawn from the Tutors wide practical experience.Questions and class participation are encouraged, as this is one of the key aspects of making this a unique experience for each attendee. Attendee project examples can often be incorporated into the class if time permits, to benefit all.

The course is completely software independent and attendees are welcome to bring laptops to take notes, but they are not required.

A full set of printed and bound notes will be issued to every attendee.

Who Should Attend?

This course is aimed at practicing engineers who wish to learn more about how to apply finite element techniques to their particular problems in the most effective manner. This course is also very useful for managers (in many cases needing to refresh their knowledge) who review FEA reports and contract suppliers.

The material that is presented is independent of any particular software package, making it ideally suited to current and potential users of all commercial finite element software systems. This course is a must for all engineers aiming to use FEA as a reliable predictive tool for thermal,stiffness and stress analysis.

Companies moving into FEA technology to improve product designs or assess prototype failures or speed the design process will benefit from sending key engineers to this course. If you have sufficient engineers then a tailor made course maybe more suitable and NAFEMS can then work closely with you to cater for your specific industry sector or analysis type.

The course is open to both members and non-members of NAFEMS.

Remarks by Previous Attendees

“Exceeded my initial expectations. I learnt a lot more than I thought I would and it was genuinely interesting.”

“The practical advice given by the lecturer about FEA was very useful”

"Confident to return to work and actually know what I’m talking about!"

Course Program

Registration will be held on Tuesday morning between 9:00am and 9:30am, with the course starting immediately afterwards. The tutor will aim to commence the course at 9am on Wednesday and Thursday and finish by 5pm each evening. Each day there will be short morning, lunchtime and afternoon breaks, timing dependent on the tutor, venue and class.

This course program contains 5 parts that combine lectures, discussions, workshops and exercises.

Part 1- Basics

History and Background to FEA

The Origins of FEA

The FEA Process

Workshop – Your Process?

Element Stiffness Matrices

Avoiding ‘Free Motion’

Degrees of Freedom (DOF)

Displacement Shape Functions

Element Types

Workshop –Which Elements?

A Sanity Check on FEA

A Simple Case Study

A Beam Structure Example

Class Exercise

Part 2 - Specifics

Controlling Degrees of Freedom (DOF)

Special Elements

A Check on FEA

Convergence Checking

Local Stress Raisers

Real World Boundary Conditions and Loading

Workshop – What are the Boundary Conditions?

Unit Load Cases

Part 3 - Reality

Making Life Simpler

FE Model Checks

Workshop - Meshes

Understanding the Objective of the Analysis

Looking Critically at the CAD Model

Why Not 20 Million Elements?

Class Exercise

Part 4 - Understanding

Classification of Structures

Free Body Diagrams

Types of Loading

Assessing Stresses

Understanding the Results

Checking the Results

Part 5 - Closing

Workshop – Housing Failure

Workshop – Reporting

Class Exercise

Conclusions

Introduction to Non-linear Analysis

Venue

This 4* stylish hotel in the heart of vibrant Camden Town, right along Regent's canal has an Open Lobby over 2 floors with international power points, USB connections, , HD TV's, Apple TV with access to your iTunes or YouTube account.

With amazing connections to London's airports, national and international rail services, the Holiday Inn London - Camden Lock is perfectly placed for your visit to the capital.

Accommodation

We have secured a limited number of rooms at the venue hotel, at a special rate of £185, including VAT on a bed & breakfast basis. Please contact the hotel directly, advising reservations that you are attending a NAFEMS course and quoting code KD1, either through the hotel website of over the phone. This reduced rate is applicable to NAFEMS delegates until 14th October.

Course Tutor:Gino Duffett

Cancellation Policy

Please note NAFEMS cancellation policy for all UK public training courses is as follows:-

Suitably qualified delegates may be substituted at any time prior to the start of the course

Bookings are accepted upon condition that either full payment is received before the course commences, or that a valid purchase order is received from a company that has a credit agreement with us

In the event of a delegate being unable to attend a course that they have booked upon then, NAFEMS will discuss the possibility of transferring to an alternative course. However, a suitable administration charge will be levied.

A refund of 50% of the course fees will be paid to delegates who cancel their booking and do not re-schedule to an alternative course, provided that the cancellation is received by NAFEMS at least four weeks in advance of the course. No refunds can be given for cancellations made after this time.

NAFEMS reserves the right to cancel the course, without liability, in which case all training fees will be refunded in full. However, NAFEMS cannot be held liable for any other expenses incurred by participants or their companies due to the cancellation.

NAFEMS will discuss the possibility of transferring to an alternative event/course, however an administration charge will be applicable.

For full terms and conditions, click here. This policy is subject to change.